Vehicle-shaft.



J. E. PUQUA. VEHICLE SHAFT.

APPLIOATION FILED Nov. 13, 1011.

1 ,034,994. Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

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bers 3 which are JAMES EVAN FUQUA, 0F MONTEVALLO, MISSOURI.

VEHICLE-SHAFT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. c, 1912.

Application filed November 13, 1911. Serial No. 660,005.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES EVAN citizen of the United States, residingat Montevallo, in the county of Vernon and State of Missouri, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Shafts; and I dodeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in vehicle shafts.

One object of the invention is to provide a pair of vehicle shafts orthills formed in yieldingly connected sections whereby all jerking orjars due to the sudden starting of the draft animal will be'obviated andprevented from being applied to the vehicle, and whereby a yielding orresilient draft is provided.

Another object is to provide a pair of shafts formed of a series oftubular sections threaded at their ends and connected together bythreaded couplings whereby a light, strong and durable structure isformed.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction, and the combination and arrangement ofparts as will be more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improvedshafts, parts being broken away and in section; Fig. 2 is a side viewthereof; Fig. 3 is a rear or inner end view of the same.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes the side bars ofthe shafts, said bars comprising main tubular outer members 2 betweenwhich the draft animal is hitched, and inner shaft attaching memarrangedat an angle of substantially 45 to the main members and are adapted tobe connected at their lower ends to the axle of the vehicle in anysuitable manner. The inner members 3 are formed of a plurality oftubular sections 4 threaded at their ends and connected together byT-couplings 5 and having on their ends elbows 6. The elbows 6 at theforward end of the members 3 are connected by short couplings 7 toT-couplings 8 in which are secured the inner ends of supporting rods 9with which are slidably engaged the inner ends of the outer The innermembers of the side bars are con- FUQUA, a

nected together by cross bars 10 comprising a plurality of tubularthreaded sections 11 which are connected together by T-couplings 12. Theouter ends of the outer sections 11 have a threaded engagement witl theT-couplings 5 which connect the sections 4 of the inner members 3together. The inner ends of the outer members 2 of the side bars areconnected together by a cross bar 13 formed of a series of tubularthreaded sections 14 which are connected together near the side bars ofthe shafts by four-way couplings 15 and have their outer ends connectedwith T-couplings 16 arranged on the inner ends of the outer members 2 ofthe side bars as shown. On the rods 9 between the couplings 8 and 16 arearranged` leather washers 17 which receive the thrust of the rearwardmovement of the outer members of the side bars when the vehicle isbacked.

Secured to the inner members 4 and to the cross bar 10 thereofadjacentto each side of the shafts is a spring holding frame 18, saidframes comprising tubular longitudinal sections 19 threaded at theirends and having their rear ends engaged with the T- coupling 12 of t-hecross bar 10 and having on their outer ends elbows 20. The forward endsof the frames 18 are formed by fourway couplings 22 connected to theelbows 20 on one side and to the T-couplings 8 on the opposite side.Arranged through the fourway couplings 15 of the cross bar 14 are springsupporting bolts 23 having on their forward ends, nuts 24. The rearportion of the bolts 23 are slidably engaged with the four-way couplings21 of the spring holding frames and have thereon between said couplingsand the heads thereof coiled compression springs 25 the pressure ofwhich is exerted to draw the bolts inwardly and thus yieldingly hold theouter members 2 of the side bars into engagement with the inner members3 thereof, thus forming a yielding resistance against the pole or draftof the vehicle by the Vdraft animal hitched thereto. On the bolts 23between the fourway couplings l5 of the cross bars 13 and the four-waycouplings 21 of the spring holding arms are arranged leather washers 26which co-act with the washers 17 to receive the rearward thrust of theouter portion of the shafts.

By forming the shafts of yieldingly conmembers 2 of the side bars.nected members constructed and arranged as herein shown and described itwill 'be said members are readily seen that the draft animal will berelieved of strain and jerks caused by the wheels of the vehiclebecoming clogged or striking obstructions and that the vehicle will berelieved of jerks and shocks due t0 the sudden starting of the draftanimal; furthermore the shaft-s themselves or the parts comprising thesame will also be relieved of strains and ars thus greatly prolongingthe life or usefulness of the shafts,

F rom the foregoing description ltaken in connection with theaccompanying drawings the construction and operation of the inventionwill be readily understood without requiring a more extendedexplanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details ofconstruct-ion may be resorted to without departing from the principle orsacrificing any o-f the advantages of the invention as claimed,

Having thus described my invention what I claim is;

l. Vehicle shafts comprising side bars each consisting of inner andouter tubular members, supporting rods secured in one of said membersand having a sliding engagement with the other member whereby looselyconnected, cross bars connecting said inner and outer members, springholding frames connected to said inner members, bolts arranged in thecross bars of the outer members and having i a sliding engagement withthe spring holding frames of the inner members, and springs arranged onsaid bolts for yieldingly connecting said shaft members.

2. A pair of vehicle shafts comprising side bars, each of which consistsof inner and outer'tubular members, supporting rods secured in theforward ends of said inner members and having a sliding engagement withthe inner ends of the outer members whereby said outer members areloosely engaged with the inner members, cross bars to connect said innermembers and said Copies of. this patent may outer members together,spring holding frames connected to said inner members, bolts arranged inthe cross bar of the outer member and having a sliding engagement withthe spring holding frames of the inner member and springs arranged onsaid bolts whereby said members of the shafts are yieldingly connectedtogether.

3. A pair of vehicle shafts comprising side bars, each of which consistsof inner and outer members formed of a plurality of tubular threadedsections, coupling members to secure said sections together,sup portingrods secured in the outer ends of the inner members and having a slidingengagement with the tubular inner ends of the outer members of the sidebars, a cross bar to connect the inner members of the side barstogether, a cross bar to connect the outer members of the side barstogether near their inner ends, spring holding frames connected to theinner members of the side bars and to the cross bar thereof, said framescomprising a series of tubular sections, coupling members to connectsaid sections together, spring holding bolts arranged through thecoupling members of the cross bar of the outer members of the side barsand having a sliding engagement with the coupling members of said springholding frames, heads arranged on the inner ends of said bolts, nutsengaged with the outer ends thereof, springs arranged on said boltsbetween said heads and the coupling mem.- bers of the spring holdingframes whereby the outer members of the side bars are held in yieldingengagement with the inner members of the side bars.

ln testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing wit# nesses.

JAMES EVAN FUQUA. 1Vi/"itnesses J'No. W. S'rUnsMER, W. R. MANN.

Commissioner of Patents,

